Honda Team HRC haven’t had it all their own way in the World Superbike Championship for quite a while now. Plenty of riders have tried – but none have managed – to win the championship on a Fireblade since ivory tickler James Toseland won in 2007. Honda are, unsurprisingly, desperate to change that and will be pulling out all the stops in 2022, the 30th anniversary year of the Fireblade.
Manager for Honda Team HRC, Leon Camier (ex BSB champ) has welcomed two new riders to his team, fresh from the MotoGP paddock; twenty-two-year-old Iker Lecuona and twenty-four-year-old Xavi Vierge, Lecuona after two years in MotoGP and Vierge seven years in Moto2.
The fresh faced ex-GP riders might be two of the youngest in the championship, but neither are short of experience. It will, however, be their first season on a Superbike, so there’ll be an absolute ton of stuff to learn.
Pre-season testing has already begun, and there’s more planned for tomorrow (17th Feb) at Portimão, before the first round of the championship kicks off on the 8th – 10th April. Before they got to Portimão though, we got the chance to catch up with Leon, Xavi and Iker, to have a chat about where they are with their preparations and what they are expecting the 2022 WSBK season to look like.
And this is what they said…
Honda Team HRC Manager Leon Camier
44T: It’s been a while since Honda have been consistently at the front of the WSBK championship, can your new riders help you bridge the gap?
LC: From a performance point of view, I’m super impressed with both riders speed, especially considering how young they are. And their feedback has been really impressive too, which is really, really important because it’s not just about speed when you’re developing a bike. Obviously before we signed Iker and Xavi, we did as much homework on both of the riders as we could, but until you get to the first test, you never know how it’s going to go. We know it’ll take time, it’s a new bike, new tyres, new riders, new circuits, there’s so much to learn, but we hope to keep progressing.
44T: You’ve got two of the youngest riders on the grid, do you think there is anything special they can bring to the team, and to the championship?
LC: We’ve chosen two young riders with the idea of investing in the future because we believe in their potential. With some races under their belts they’ll understand the championship better and how to ride a superbike better. It won’t be an easy transition from the championships they’ve been in, but we hope we can both build the Fireblade around them, as much as they can adapt to it. And that’s something that maybe more experienced Superbike riders would struggle to do.
44T: Speaking of more experienced Superbike riders, is there any chance we might see Leon Camier enter a round or two as a wildcard for Honda Team HRC?
LC: I’m far too slow nowadays! No, my motivation is to help Xavi and Iker win races, and to try and win the championship. That’ll be the only winning I get to do from now on.
Xavi Vierge
44T: You’re halfway through your testing schedule, can you tell us what you’re working on and is everything on track?
XV: Basically we need to continue making as many laps as we can. We are testing many new items that Honda are sending from Japan, so that is taking up a lot of the time. There are new tracks for us to learn so the more laps we can do, the better position we will be in when we get to the first round.
44T: A superbike weekend has a completely different format to a GP weekend, does that mean you need to prepare for it in a different way?
XV: For sure it will be a big challenge. In the last years I have done one race all weekend. This format means we need to reset, and go back to the old days like when I was in CEV and we had two races. It’s important to change the planning and the way you train; this winter I have been training two or three times on the same day, because having two races in one day will not be easy. You can’t relax when the race is finished, you have to be ready for the next one. Also the Superbike is more powerful so I have to build my strength in the gym!
44T: How different is a Superbike compared to a Moto2 bike?
XV: The first time I jumped on the Fireblade it felt really, really powerful. I didn’t expect that much! On the first two days of testing we worked a lot on the electronics, and now it feels like a much smoother bike. But this is a completely new bike for me, with lots more power. Coming from Moto2 is a big, big jump. But I don’t think it is a problem, I just need to learn how to use the power properly and ride fast.
44T: Are you pleased to be swapping the MotoGP paddock for the WSBK paddock?
XV: I’m really, really happy to be riding for HRC in this championship. Every rider wants to be in a team, in a championship that he can fight for and win, this is our motivation. So to come here in the factory team is perfect because they have the same mentality as me, they have a goal to win. This is why I wanted to join them. Now we are all working every day to achieve the same goal together. So for me it’s really, really nice to be here and I’m really looking forward to the start of the championship. And everyone says really good things about the WSBK paddock!
44T: What are you looking forward to most about your season in World Superbikes?
XV: There are so many things! One place I really want to ride is Donington Park, it looks really, really nice so I hope time goes fast and we can be there soon!
Iker Lecuona
44T: You’re halfway through your testing schedule, can you tell us what you’re working on and is everything on track?
IK: We need a lot of laps with this bike and we need to keep working because everything is new for us. This is the goal right now. We need to work on the bike but I need to work on myself and get used to riding a Superbike too, in time for the first race.
44T: A superbike weekend has a completely different format to a GP weekend, does that mean you need to prepare for it in a different way?
IK: Yes there are three races in two days so it is very different for sure. You have to prepare differently physically and mentally. You have to train differently and be prepared for the extra races. It is a big challenge, but for me it’s a positive one. I like the idea of three races so I can’t wait to try it.
44T: How different is a Superbike compared to a MotoGP bike?
IK: I come from MotoGP so for me the first time I jumped on the Superbike I didn’t think it had a lot of power. It’s the other way round for me compared to Xavi. I have to work a lot with all aspects of the bike, but especially the electronics; I worked a lot on the electronics on my MotoGP bike. There is more to do but I think I need more time to feel and get used to the superbike.
But the work for me is the same; it is a bike and you race it! For me it is actually easier to ride the superbike compared to the MotoGP KTM, but really it’s the same job. The power is less, and the tyres are different, but you have an engine, two wheels and you need to go fast! You go out on the track, do your laps, come back to the box, talk to your crew, try and improve things and try and go fast. In that way, it is the same as MotoGP.
44T: Are you pleased to be swapping the MotoGP paddock for the WSBK paddock?
IK: Yes really happy! I arrived to Portimão a day early because I was that excited, and I couldn’t wait to get on the bike. I am here because I love the bike and I love to win. It’s great to feel the factory behind me. And i think it’s a very positive move for my career. When I was a kid I followed World Superbikes a lot, so I’m really happy to be here.
Will Honda’s luck turn with two new riders and a 30th anniversary Fireblade? HRC are absolutely smashing pre-season testing over in MotoGP, but WSBK is a whole different kettle of fish. There is absolutely no doubt that Xavi Vierge and Iker Lecuona can ride, but it might take a few rounds for them to find their feet on the Honda Team HRC bike. Then again, it might not. We’ll find out in a month and a half.
